Several residents of San Fernando Valley and Glendale are more than one of more than 12 defendants facing federal charges claiming they have won more than $25 million in Covid-19 relief funds and federally secured small business loans, officials said.
Those arrested Wednesday include Sarkis Sarkis Sarkis, 37, of Glendale, according to the U.S. lawyers’ office. He submitted false applications and fake documents to provide low, permitted loans to help small businesses maintain their workforce and cover costs. Sarkisyan is said to have applied in April 2021 on behalf of a fake business that received more than $700,000 in the PPP fund.
Van Nuys’ Mery Babayan, 32, said, along with two co-defendants, “It is said that the federal government has fraudulent banks by obtaining nearly $3 million on behalf of a non-existent sale of a fake business to another fake company.
A guaranteed loan through a small business managed lending program.
Felix Parker, 77, from North Hollywood, allegedly in January 2023, falsely claimed that the Shell Company made millions of dollars a year and owned tens of thousands of dollars in federal income tax.
We received more than $2 million in funding that is supposed to support small businesses.
Axsel Markaryan, 47, of Pacoima, is allegedly fraudulently acquired an SBA loan of more than $5 million in June 2023 by filing fake documents containing fake tax returns, and later partially washed the money by sending at least $100,000 to Armenia co-conspirators.
The defendant is charged with conspiracy to fraud the government over claims and other charges.
During the takedown, authorities seized nearly $20,000 of cash, two money count machines, paper cash bands or currency straps, multiple mobile phones, multiple laptops, two loaded semi-automatic 9mm handguns, and 9mm ammunition boxes on the $2,000 and $10,000 denominations.
If convicted, each defendant could face decades in federal prison, prosecutors noted.
“Today’s enforcement action is intended to send a message to all criminals who use government programs designed to help those who need them most,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essay said in a statement.
“If you receive Covid-19 or SBA money, your door could be the next visitor. With a law enforcement partner, my office will actively prosecute individuals who are cheating on a system that is intended to protect and support law-abiding citizens.”
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